Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
With 31 days to go, today we look at former USC fullback Soma Vainuku.
Position: Running back
Years played at USC: 2011-2015
Career highlights: Vainuku originally signed with USC in the class of 2010, but he did not qualify for admission, so he remained in high school for another semester and joined the Trojans in 2011. After redshirting his first season on campus, Vainuku served as the team’s starting fullback for the next four years. Although he primarily made his impact as a blocker and on special teams, he still finished his career in Cardinal and Gold with nearly 300 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns.
After USC: Vainuku signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft. The following year, he also had a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons. However, he was released by both teams within a few months of signing, and never appeared in an NFL regular season game.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans fullback Soma Vainuku
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire | USA TODAY Network
